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Ohio State University honors American icon John Glenn

John Glenn, a NASA astronaut who became the first American to orbit the Earth, died Thursday. He was 95 years old. In 1962, Glenn made history when he orbited the globe three times in four hours and 56 minutes. He was part of the Mercury Seven ,...

Ohio State University honors American icon John Glenn

John Glenn, a NASA astronaut who became the first American to orbit the Earth, died Thursday. He was 95 years old.

In 1962, Glenn made history when he orbited the globe three times in four hours and 56 minutes. He was part of the Mercury Seven, the first group of astronauts announced by NASA. In 1959, they were tasked with piloting manned spacecraft in outer space.

RIP, John Glenn.(Photo11: Graphic: Walbert Castillo; photo: NASA)

A decorated United States Marine, Glenn was awarded the Space Congressional Medal of Honor by President John F. Kennedy for his accomplishment. He went on to become a U.S. senator representing Ohio for four terms.

Before his death, Glenn was hospitalized for more than a week in Ohio after suffering from ill health for several months. He is the last of the Mercury Seven to die.

Ohio State University released a statement Thursday honoring Glenn's legacy at the university, where he founded the John Glenn College of Public Affairs.

"The Ohio State University community deeply mourns the loss of John Glenn, Ohio's consummate public servant and a true American hero," President Michael V. Drake said in the statement. "He leaves an undiminished legacy as one of the great people of our time."

In 1998, Glenn founded the John Glenn Institute of Public Service and Policy at Ohio State, which later merged with the School of Public Policy and Management in 2006. He served as an adjunct professor until recently, according to the statement. In 2009, Glenn also gave the keynote address at spring commencement.

"He was an authentic hero whose courage, integrity, sacrifice and achievements inspired people, young and old, around the world," Drake said in the statement.

Details about Glenn's arrangements and remembrance services have yet to be released, according to the statement.

Daniel Funke is a student at University of Georgia and a USA TODAY College lead digital producer.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.